Nuggets face elimination in Game 5
- The Denver Nuggets enter Game 5 on Monday night facing elimination after Minnesota beat them 112-96 in Game 4 for a 3-1 first-round lead. - Minnesota lost Donte DiVincenzo to a torn right Achilles and Anthony Edwards to a left knee injury, but Ayo Dosunmu scored 43 points off the bench. - Game 5 shifts to Denver, where the Timberwolves can close the series despite major backcourt injuries. (nba.com)
Denver hosts Minnesota on Monday night with the Nuggets down 3-1 and one loss from a first-round exit. (nba.com) The Timberwolves took control of the series Saturday with a 112-96 win in Minneapolis. Ayo Dosunmu scored a career-high 43 points, and Jamal Murray led Denver with 30. (espn.com) Minnesota got that win after losing both starting guards in Game 4. Donte DiVincenzo left 79 seconds in with a torn right Achilles, and Anthony Edwards exited later with a left knee injury. (espn.com) (nba.com) Chris Finch said after the game that DiVincenzo’s season is over, while the severity of Edwards’ knee injury was still unclear Saturday night. Edwards was averaging 23 points and eight rebounds in the series. (nba.com) Dosunmu’s 43 points came on 13-for-17 shooting, 5-for-5 from 3-point range, and 12-for-12 at the line in 42 minutes. ESPN’s recap said it was the highest-scoring playoff game by a reserve in 50 years. (espn.com) Denver’s problem is bigger than one bad night. The Nuggets have lost three straight games in the series after winning Game 1, and they shot 6-for-27 from deep in Game 4. (espn.com) (nba.com) Nikola Jokic is still putting up 25.0 points, 14.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game in the series, but Denver has not turned that into wins since April 18. Minnesota’s series leader has become Dosunmu at 22.8 points per game. (nba.com) Nuggets coach David Adelman said he expects “a great effort” in Game 5 and said Denver’s two best players must “find a rhythm” at home. The game is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. Eastern on Peacock and NBC. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) The immediate question is whether Minnesota has enough healthy shot creation left to finish the series without Edwards and DiVincenzo. Denver’s immediate question is simpler: win Monday, or the season ends. (espn.com) (nba.com)
